A look at Wind Tower from part way up the trail to Wind Pass

The trail from the Spray Lake's road leads up to Wind Pass

From Wind Pass you see the general traverse to the final summit slope

Scramble: Class 1 – Steep Hiking

Altitude: 2,695m (8,842 ft)

Elevation Gain: 965m (3,165 ft)

Ascent Time: 2 – 3 Hours

Best Season to Scramble: Mid-June to September

Although there is no route exposure on this scramble its straight down once you hit the summit. Vertigo city for those who peer over the edge.

From the Bow River bridge in Canmore it’s around 21+ km to the parking spot. The road from the Bow River bridge takes you past the Canmore Nordic Centre and onto the Spray Lakes road (packed gravel). When you see the signed "Driftwood Day Use Area" continue on for another 1.4 km to a lakeside grassy pulloff spot. If you pass the sign for Spurling Creek you have gone too far.

From the parking spot you can see the upper slopes of Wind Tower. Cross the road to the trailhead on the left bank of the creek which will take you to West Wind Pass which lies between Wind Tower on your right and Rimwall on your left. Stay left at the first fork in the trail and then stay right at the next fork. The trail takes you high above the creek and up to Wind Pass. Allow approx 1 – 1 ½ hours to Wind Pass. Actually just before Wind Pass proper there is a trail that begins to traverse the side slopes of Wind Tower. From this trail there are a number of faint trails but the idea is to traverse south until you get around the cliff bands and onto the long open slope to the summit. This long open slope faces the Spray Lake. Once on this slope it’s a long plod to the summit with increasingly scenic views.